RUIZ'S LETTERWhen I started The Manager's Playbook, the goal was simple: create a space for authentic conversations with my peers in the industry about the music business. The purpose was even more simple: offer brutal transparency to the next generation of managers, artists, and executives trying to build a real living in a music business that loves to overcomplicate the process. can become difficult to trace in order or revisit with context. This digital magazine was created to solve that problem. It serves as a definitive guide through the first chapter of the podcast, bringing together the most important conversations, ideas, and lessons from the first 50 episodes in one place.
Page 12Matthew Burnett and Jordan Evans never wanted to be managers, yet producing Daniel Caesar forced them into the job: videos, artwork, emails, decisions. They break down how "accidental" management works: do the hard part (make people care), stay competent, build a tight team, and pull in help only when you hit a ceiling. JORDAN EVANS &
NatalleTHE HARSH TRUTH OF MANAGING EGOS Natalie Prospere doesn't sugarcoat it: "We create the monsters." She unpacks how managers, teams, and fame can inflate egos, and how to set boundaries before it breaks the artist (and you). If you've ever felt trapped by entitlement, this conversation gives you language, frameworks, and the courage to lead with respect, not fear.
NICK GROEFA&R FROM THE LABEL PERSPECTIVE ormer Interscope SVP of A&R and Geffen GM, Nick Groff explains what A&R really is: talent scout, deal architect, creative partner, then the "politician" fighting for attention in a 60- artist building. He breaks down moneyball signings (TikTok heat) vs. real artist development, and the underrated skill of knowing when to step back and let artists create. An insider map of how major record labels move. E
Lola PlakuCONCERT PROMOTION Lola Plaku breaks down promotion that lasts; fan pipelines, not one-night sellouts. After trying artist management, she's candid about why she hates it: the 24/7 emotional load and constant expectation to be everything. So she focuses on what scales; timing, community, street teams, and consistency that turns shows into long-term fans. If you want concerts that grow careers (not just clout), this episode is your blueprint.
Page 60Laurie Lee Boutet (Manager of The Beaches) reveals the real moat: owning fan data. She shows how to turn TikTok spikes into email and SMS subscribers using simple touch points, Laylo pre-saves, giveaways, and merch drops, taking The Beaches from 1,500 emails to 6,000 in a month, and now 85,000+. Stop renting attention, own it. LAURIE LEE BOUTET
Hit-Boy & Nima Nasseri70 Hit-Boy and manager Nima Nasseri unpack the 18-year publishing deal that trapped him and the mindset that got him out. Learn what to look for before you sign, why "CD language" can wreck your future, and how therapy, team, and relentless output turn a bad contract into a comeback. Required viewing for anyone building in music.
NICK JARJOURProtecting the Artist Nick Jarjour treats management as artist protection. (sometimes that means being the "enemy of the state" for your client) He shares how integrity beats politics, why an advocate must fight for what the artist actually wants, and when to pull talent out before the grind breaks them. If you manage anyone, this episode is a boundary-setting masterclass.
NIC DYOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A STAR TO BE SUCCESSFUL Nic D is the counter-narrative, an indie from Culpeper, Virginia who built 1.5B+ streams and a million Spotify plays a day with no manager, label, agent, or touring. He breaks down the unsexy formula: treat music like a business and make content that doesn't feel like an ad, let fans discover you. Proof you can win without chasing stardom.